Thursday, March 14, 2013

The Setting of A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick

Cobblestones Quilt Block
 
Our February book selection, The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas, takes place in the small Midwestern town of Harveyville, Kansas in the 1930's.  Harveyville, Kansas is an actual town.  The author's grandparents lived there, and her parents lived there briefly after they were first married. 

In contrast, our March selection, A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick, takes place in the small New England town of New Bern, Connecticut in contemporary times.  New Bern is a fictional town, though very similar to the rural town in Connecticut where the author actually lives.      

I found the following quilt block patterns free online that go with the setting of Evelyn's quilt shop, Cobbled Court Quilts, and the village of New Bern, Connecticut. 

Bricks and Cobblestones  (just the Cobblestones part)
Cobblestone
Connecticut
State of Connecticut
The Courtyard (Thanks to Mama T. for finding this one!  It's a perfect fit!)
Yankee Puzzle
Yankee Puzzle Variation

This question comes from the author's website http://mariebostwick.com:
After only a few hours in New Bern, Evelyn realizes she feels more at ease in the New England town than she ever did in her planned suburban development in Texas.  Do you believe certain places can speak to us?  Can you recall a place where you immediately felt at home?  Do you know why?  Please respond in the comments section below.  We'd love to hear your thoughts!

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post: 
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2013/03/theme-of-friendship-and-community-in.html

6 comments:

  1. I actually do feel that way because, though I am a native of Oregon, I felt instantly at home when I arrived in northwest Connecticut. Why? Well, I still don't know for sure. But after I moved here, I found out that way back in the mid-1600's, my ancestors left England, came to Connecticut, and founded a town about 10 miles west of where I live now. I've always wondered if there might be something to generational memory; that my love for this place might not be something planted in my DNA or something.

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  2. That is an interesting question because I always feel at home wherever I am living. I often wonder if in the future I had to leave Japan, where I would go. I love the people in Boston, where a daughter lives. I love the summers in Oregon where three other children live. I guess anywhere that I can have a garden, and activities to take part in, I would be happy... but right here I have neighbors who know me and don't think me strange, I have teaching and scouting, I have Church and choir and homeless to serve, I can take a train almost anywhere I want to go ... in case some day I can't afford a car anymore... Hmmmmm.

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  3. When I returned home to my small home town after being gone 40 years, I guess it felt more like home than it did when I actually lived here. I've lived quite a few places throughout the years, and unfortunately I never felt at home in any of them, although I found much to like about each one. When I started working on my family tree, I visited two of the small rural towns where my ancestors settled. As I walked around I did feel a strange connection to the places somehow.

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  4. I've always felt more comfortable in 'smaller' places, where the 'country' areas can be found quickly. I'm just not a 'city girl' even tho I live in the Chicago suburbs. I'd much rather be closer to rural areas again.

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  5. I have lived many places in my life time. Va. always felt like home. When we crossed the state border, I felt this instant "breath of calmness". It is hard to explain, because I loved every where I have lived. Va. is home.

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  6. I've either lived in Colorado/Wyoming or Texas most of my life. But there was a slot of one year that we lived on a ranch in the sandhills of Nebraska near Valentine. I LOVED it there!! I think I left part of my heart there when we moved away. There is something about the wide open spaces with rolling hills covered in grass that just "speaks" to my soul. But truly "home" is where my family is! We are close and love spending time together. Except for my college days and 4 months in 1982, I've always lived on a ranch. Never in a town/city. So "home" is also the country.

    Blessings to each of you!

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